Pioneering Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos brings her bold vision to the New York apartment of Randi Charno Levine, former US ambassador to Portugal. Nestled within a BIG-designed tower in West Chelsea, the apartment blends art and living in a space crafted by designer Kelly Behun. Known for turning everyday objects into monumental art, Vasconcelos continues her tradition with this project, showcasing the remarkable sculptures that captivate and inspire.
Ambassador Randi Charno Levine with Tschabalala Self’s Mista & Mis’ess, 2021 (on wall), and Jenny Holzer’s Selection from truisms: words tend to… (text from truisms 1977-79), 2020
A Harmonious Collaboration Between Art and Textile Artworks
Kelly Behun’s design perfectly complements Levine’s taste, creating a curated home that balances warmth with aesthetic restraint. “I had seen a number of projects by Kelly and her team and was struck by how they balanced restraint with real warmth; nothing felt forced,” Levine comments. Together, they crafted spaces that are both elegant and functional, designed for living as much as entertaining, incorporating the charm of unique textile sculptures.
In the dining room is a custom oak dining table by Kelly Behun Studio with ‘Baba’ chairs in Bouclette 03, by Emmanuelle Simon via The Invisible Collection. On each side are ‘Lc2 Margas’ chairs by Louise Liljencrantz for &Tradition
The apartment also embraces an impressive art collection, including works by Tschabalala Self, Jenny Holzer, Cecily Brown, and Hank Willis Thomas. It reflects Levine’s life in cultural diplomacy and personal connections with the artists, complemented by the presence of Vasconcelos’s creations.
A Minotti ‘Cosy’ modular sofa takes centre stage, paired with a Casey McCafferty side table, and standing on a custom-designed rug by Kelly Behun and The Rug Company. On the right is a ‘Dumbo’ chair in Nobilis fabric by Hubert Le Gall, via Twenty First Gallery
The Loggia: A Canvas for Vasconcelos’s Artwork
The loggia, offering sweeping views of Manhattan, becomes a focal point. Here, Levine collaborated with Vasconcelos to transform the area with her signature vibrant textiles and sculptural forms. In 2023, Levine and Vasconcelos collaborated with American and Portuguese artists, strengthening their artistic bond. This led to the creation of intricate sculptures resembling palm trees, bringing the theme of a “garden of delights” to vivid life and showcasing remarkable textile art.
Joana Vasconcelos’ commissioned work for the apartment’s loggia
This space, with its columns and abstract sculptures, integrates seamlessly with the apartment’s interior. Vasconcelos’s unmistakable use of layered textiles, fringes, and beads echoes through the loggia, maintaining continuity throughout the home and emphasizing the allure of her signature art pieces.
Interior of ambassador Randi Charno Levine apartment in Manhattan, designed by Kelly Behun
Art Meets Atmosphere
“There’s an exuberance to Joana’s piece that creates a strong focus within the space,” says Behun. The installations become a captivating element as daylight shifts. At night, they transform, lighting up as if a piece of the vibrant Manhattan skyline resides indoors. “It so perfectly represents Randi, her passion for art, and her unwavering support of artists,” she adds, illustrating how the installation complements Levine’s personality and the expansive urban view with the unforgettable presence of Vasconcelos’s work.
Chandelier by Frida Fjellman, via Hostler Burrows. Custom Kelly Behun Studio dining table with integrated lazy Susan with ‘Giac’ dining chairs, via DLV. On the table are Michela Cattai glass sculptures, via Maison Gerard, and on the wall is Jeffrey Gibson’s Eye Of The Storm Like A Hurricane, 2020
In the media room, a custom Kelly Behun Studio sofa, upholstered in Clarence House Tibet fabric, and a trio of Marbera custom coffee tables in Picasso quartzite sit on a Moroccan rug by Souffiane. On the wall are a pair of Laura Gonzalez ‘Capucine’ sconces and Alison Elizabeth Taylor’s Shed Bed Chainlink Forest Scorpion Sunrise, 2018
In the home office is a Darren Romanelli ‘Quilted Desk’ and matching chair, via Friedman Benda, while on the desk is a piece by Jasmin Anoshkin, via Hostler Burrows. Above the desk is Raft, by Christopher Myers, 2022, and on the left is Little Big Ball #0, by David Muller, 2008
One corner of the living space features a furry ‘Florentino’ chaise by Aguirre Design and a side table from the ‘Echo’ series by Ian Alistair Cochran, via Tuleste, with a pair of ‘Duchess’ chairs by Mattia Bonetti, via David Gill. The coffee table is by Marcin Rusak, from the ‘Pressed Flowers’ series, while on the wall is Jeffrey Gibson’s Eye of the Storm Like a Hurricane, 2020
‘Sensu’ sideboard by Eva Szumilas, via Studio Twenty Seven with ceramics by Dominique Mercadal, via Amelie du Chalard. On the wall is a series by Kara Walker, 2011
A view of the home office featuring a 1930s ‘H269’ armchair by Jindřich Halabala, via Morentz, and a Lucas Recchia side table on a custom rug designed by Kelly Behun for The Rug Company. At the entrance is Amy Sherald’s As Soft as She is…, 2024
The custom bar by Kelly Behun Studio is made of onyx and brass and features a pair of pendant lamps by Soft Witness via Objective Gallery
In the main bedroom, a Cecily Brown painting hangs above the bed, which is a custom Kelly Behun design. Lighting in the room includes flower sconces by Trueing on each side of the bed, while on the ceiling is a pendant light by Pinch, from the Future Perfect. On the bed is a vintage ‘Kärvar’ tapestry by Barbo Nilsson from 1956, via FJ Hakimian
In the bedroom is a pair of Ro’Win Atelier ‘Conq’ chairs, via Twenty First Gallery, on a custom rug designed by Kelly Behun for The Rug Company
In the main bathroom, a custom oak vanity by Kelly Behun adds warmth to the room, enhanced by the vintage Murano glass ceiling light
The vanity desk by Kelly Behun in oak, brass and faux parchment is paired with a Christopher Baker ‘Series 1 Lotus’ table lamp, via Dobrinka Gallery. The chair is from a limited-edition collaboration by Pierre Yovanovitch and Christian Louboutin
In the bathroom, a custom vanity by Kelly Behun in calacatta dune gold marble is paired with a pair of George William Bell glass sculptures via Lyle Gallery and a mirror by Bryan O’Sullivan. On the wall is a De Gournay wallpaper with a vintage Murano glass sconce
Who is Joana Vasconcelos collaborating with in Manhattan?
Joana Vasconcelos is collaborating with Randi Charno Levine, the former US ambassador to Portugal, and designer Kelly Behun to transform a Manhattan apartment with her textile sculptures.
What kind of artworks are found in the apartment?
The apartment embraces an impressive art collection, including works by Tschabalala Self, Jenny Holzer, Cecily Brown, and Hank Willis Thomas, as well as the textile sculptures by Joana Vasconcelos.
How are the sculptures integrated into the apartment?
The sculptures integrate seamlessly with the apartment’s interior, especially in the loggia, where Vasconcelos’s use of vibrant textiles and sculptural forms are highlighted, maintaining continuity throughout the home.
